Unprepared and Underwater: Florida’s Flood Fury Grows as Costs Soar

Experts warn that the recent storm damage to the state could skyrocket into hundreds of millions of dollars – but not all residents are prepared for that.

The Storm’s Start

On Monday afternoon, Floridians living in the southern area of the state were greeted with a flash flood warning by the National Weather Service (NWS).

Residents of Miami-Dade and Broward County were told to brace themselves for heavy rain and thunderstorms throughout the day.

Look on the Bright Side?

According to the statement released by the NWS: “While it likely will be rainy and overcast, this will at least give us a brief reprieve from the excessive heat.”

More Than Just a Drizzle

While the warning was being issued, rain measuring between 2 and 3 inches was already pouring down.

But the downpour was severe enough for two West Broward hospital emergency departments to be temporarily closed.

Road Closures

Van Schoen, spokesman for Tamarac Fire Rescue, stated that: “Along University Drive in some areas there is a foot-and-a-half of standing water.”

Ambulances were being rerouted from HCA Woodmont in Tamarac and Florida Medical Center on West Oakland Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale by early Monday evening.

Impacting Medical Services

According to Schoen, the downpour resulted in roof leaks for certain parts of patient rooms at HCA Woodmont.

“Out of caution for patients and staff, they started to move patients out of those rooms. They are now on diversion and not taking patients in their ER. They are up and running and operating,” he said. “They are just taking as much caution as they can to make sure they don’t have incidents.”

Less Dangerous by Late Afternoon

The NWS said that the flood warning for a region in northern Broward (which included Coral Springs, Sunrise, Tamarac, and Lauderdale Lakes) remained in effect until 3:15 p.m. on Monday afternoon.

But Beware

South Florida residents were told that slow-moving tropical downpours were predicted throughout the rest of Monday into Tuesday and that it would likely decrease by Wednesday through the rest of the week.

The Danger Zones
Cities and towns in South Florida that were warned about possible flooding include:
• Fort Lauderdale
• Hollywood
• Prospect
• Miami Gardens
• Pompano Beach
• Davie

What’s the Damage?

But Monday’s flood warnings certainly weren’t the only chaos to hit South Florida.

In early June, a dangerous flood left a trail of destruction after being caused by a series of violent storms. According to Aon, the approximate damage costs inflicted upon the area could reach in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

A Huge Impact

During this series of storms, parts of Miami-Dade and Broward counties were flooded over various days, causing damage not only to residential- and commercial buildings but also to numerous vehicles.

Not Only Florida

Reports state that up to 20 inches of rainfall hit some of the areas as a result of a low-pressure system being ushered in from the Gulf of Mexico.

In addition to South Florida, the weather system says that floodings also reached parts of the Gulf Coast, including Marco Island, Naples, and Sarasota.

That’s a Lot of Cars

State Farm, one of the state’s biggest auto insurers, claims that, as of June 20th, about 1,300 auto claims were filed, emphasizing the widespread nature of the floods.

Not That Bad, Apparently…

But although the damage is reported to be staggering, the chances of this being labeled as a federal disaster remain uncertain.

This comes after both local- and state officials said the event might not meet the standards to be classified as a federal disaster.

Those Without Insurance

This has led to extensive worries about the accessibility of financial assistance for those impacted by the storms, especially for those property- and business owners who remain uninsured.

It’s Florida, After All

The Insurance Information Institute’s Mark Friedlander reiterated the unpredictable nature of floods that occur in South Florida. “What we experienced is a stark reminder that flooding can occur any time in South Florida, not just during hurricanes,” he said.

Not Enough Insured

Friedlander also stressed the importance of flood insurance, adding that only 19% of homeowners in the entire state enjoy such coverage.

This is in spite of Florida accounting for almost 50% of all National Flood Insurance Program policies in the US.

Better Coverage Needed

Although insurance can help lessen the financial effects, it is not less important than the community’s readiness and ability to bounce back after such an event.

If anything, the recent storms in the state have highlighted the urgency for complete risk management strategies, as well as the importance of upholding proper insurance coverage to offer protection in the event of unpredictable natural disasters.

Moving Forward

Following the floods, the impacted communities have started the difficult task of recovery and rebuilding.

The aftermath of this incident is expected to kickstart conversations regarding not only upgrades to infrastructure, but also the implementation of more effective flood prevention measures to provide better protection against more floods that might impact South Florida in the future.

Location Doesn’t Matter

Friedlander added: “Flooding is not restricted to FEMA flood zones. It can occur in any community. Homeowners need to own their risk and assess how vulnerable they are to hazards like flooding. You are not fully protected from storm hazards without flood insurance.”

Keep an Eye on the Weather

As for the rest of the week, meteorologists predict that cloudy weather with high humidity will prevail.

And with a chance of more downpours between 50% – 60%, those in South Florida can gear themselves up for a humid and potentially stormy week.

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